Malaysia

Malaysia is known for batik and songket textiles, the mak yong dance-theatre, kite-making and forging the kris dagger.

Textile & dress Music & dance Crafts

Knowledge in this place

Batik wax-resist dyeing

Batik wax-resist dyeing

Drawing patterns in hot wax on cloth with a canting spout so dye only takes on bare areas.

Textile & dress

Songket brocade

Songket brocade

Weaving silk and inserting gold or silver threads by hand to raise shimmering patterns.

Textile & dress

Mak yong dance-theatre

Mak yong dance-theatre

An ancient stage form mixing dance, song, comedy and ritual to a small gong and fiddle ensemble.

Wau kite making

Wau kite making

Building large kites on a split-bamboo frame decorated with cut paper in floral and bird shapes.

Kris forging

Kris forging

Folding layered iron and nickel into a wavy blade whose grain pattern is etched to appear.